First Down Kentucky: Day Two NFL Mock Draft Roundup

The first round of the NFL Draft featured quite a few surprises with six quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks. It did not include a Kentucky Wildcat among the top players. That is expected to change Friday night.

Two former players on Brad White’s Kentucky defense are officially on the clock, DB Dru Phillips and LB Trevin Wallace. Tonight they should receive some life-changing news from the NFL Draft stage in Detroit. After a long night, mock drafters have shuffled the deck to project when the former Wildcats will hear their names called.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

Phillips: Round 2, No. 58 overall, Green Bay Packers
Wallace: Round 3, No. 94 overall, San Francisco 49ers

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Phillips: Round 2, No. 48 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars
Wallace: Round 3, No. 73 overall, Dallas Cowboys

Chip Trapasso, CBS Sports

Phillips: Round 3, No. 88 overall, Green Bay Packers
Wallace: Round 3, No. 94 overall, San Francisco 49ers

Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated

Phillips: Round 3, No. 79 overall, Atlanta Falcons

Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports

Phillips: Round 3, No. 76 overall, Denver Broncos

No Coach Speak from Saban and Belichick at the NFL Draft

The spectacle of the NFL Draft can now be seen on four different broadcasts: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, and ESPN+. On the final streaming-only platform, viewers were treated to a different side of Bill Belichick. The notoriously guarded legendary coach provided very little during press conferences. Now out of a coaching role, he’s shown that he can be a TV personality.

Even during the waning years of his days at Alabama, Nick Saban was preparing for a life in media. He made regular appearances with Pat McAfee and sat at the College GameDay desk once the Crimson Tide were eliminated. He was one of the main contributors on ABC’s coverage on Thursday night.

While flipping between broadcasts, I found myself hanging onto every single word they said, a rarity in this busy sports media landscape. Even though I didn’t agree with every take, I was desperate to hear their insight on each selection. Maybe that will wear off as we see them more through this different lens, but I’m looking forward to hearing more candid conversations from the coaching icons.

NFL Draft coverage resumes at 7 pm EST tonight on all of the major carriers.

"The most interesting trade was the Randy Moss trade..

We had been trying to trade for him for two months..

The first two times I called him to say we got him he hung up the phone because he thought it was a prank" 😂😂 ~ Bill Belichick#PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/ov13j9L7Xg

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 26, 2024

Tampering Saban?

Storytime with Uncle Bill was delightful. Meanwhile, his cohort kind of stepped in it. Shortly after cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Saban admitted he wanted Mitchell to transfer to Alabama last season.

“He was our No. 1 guy in the portal last year to try to get him to come out of the portal, and he would never get in the portal,” Saban said.

Turns out, you can’t tamper with MACtion.

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